Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 27, 2025 at 4:32 PM

The GOP’s new voter suppression architect

The GOP’s new voter suppression architect When Republicans were desperate to win the 2014 Senate election in North Carolina, they selected Thom Tillis as their nominee. Tillis was the Speaker of the state House when the GOP enacted a sprawling anti-voting law. In considering what provisi…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 27, 2025 at 11:12 AM

My conversation with ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero

My conversation with ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero We talked about the strategy behind bringing hard cases, the recent Supreme Court decisions, the ACLU’s vital impact, and much more. View in browser July 27, 2025 …

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 26, 2025 at 11:02 AM

Republicans are coming for the voter rolls

Republicans are coming for the voter rolls The GOP loves to champion President Abraham Lincoln as the father of the Republican Party. But if Republicans insist on referencing our 16th president, they would probably benefit from a history lesson or two. View in browser …

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 25, 2025 at 10:04 PM

Trump’s chilling retribution campaign poses a grave threat to democracy

Trump’s chilling retribution campaign poses a grave threat to democracy In 2023, Donald Trump told supporters, "I am your retribution," vowing to use a second term for vengeance if re-elected. Six months into that  term, he's weaponizing the federal government against political opponents…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 25, 2025 at 7:05 PM

South Park proves that Trump’s politics are now downstream of Epstein

South Park proves that Trump’s politics are now downstream of Epstein Andrew Breitbart, the right-wing media figure once observed that “politics is downstream of culture.” In the post-mortem of the 2024 election, the consensus was that Democrats failed to understand this by refusing to e…

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July 25, 2025 at 11:04 AM

Texas could set off redistricting chain reaction

Texas could set off redistricting chain reaction With Republicans following Trump’s marching orders to redraw the Texas congressional map, other red states could fall in line next – while blue states say they’re looking at redrawing their own maps to counter the GOP. Friday, …

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July 24, 2025 at 10:02 PM

DOJ sent its latest demand for voter data to the wrong person

DOJ sent its latest demand for voter data to the wrong person Criminal prosecutors asked Wisconsin Sec. of State Sarah Godlewski (D) to hand over sensitive election data to help the Trump administration’s hunt for illegal voting. The problem? She has no role in running the state’s electi…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 24, 2025 at 3:27 PM

Take our 2025 Reader Survey and Win a Tote

Take our 2025 Reader Survey and Win a Tote Thank you for being part of the Democracy Docket community! We value your readership and feedback and would love to get to know you better so we can shape our future coverage. View in browser …

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM

‘It’s time to go after people’

‘It’s time to go after people’ Trump and his allies are now openly weaponizing the federal government to both enact retribution for long-term grievances and to move the newscycle beyond the Epstein story. Thursday, July 24 View in browser …

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July 23, 2025 at 10:02 PM

Judge bars Trump admin from taking Abrego Garcia into custody

Judge bars Trump admin from taking Abrego Garcia into custody A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration “SHALL NOT” take Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was wrongly removed from the U.S. earlier this year, into custody should he be released from pretrial incarceration on immigrant sm…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 23, 2025 at 9:18 PM

My take on what’s right and wrong

My take on what’s right and wrong Last week, President Barack Obama appeared on Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson’s podcast — “IMO” — to disclose one of his most controversial takes. “You should not eat ketchup after the age of eight,” the former president declared. Michelle Obama clearl…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 23, 2025 at 11:03 AM

A prominent election conspiracy theorist is setting his sights on Michigan for 2026

A prominent election conspiracy theorist is setting his sights on Michigan for 2026 Seth Keshel, a prominent election denier and conspiracy theorist, recently joined a far-right Michigan voting group with ties to Cleta Mitchell, signalling that the Great Lakes State could be a hotbed for…

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July 22, 2025 at 10:02 PM

Amid Epstein fallout, Trump says Obama is guilty of treason

Amid Epstein fallout, Trump says Obama is guilty of treason President Donald Trump accused former President Barack Obama of treason over baseless claims that Obama tried to organize a “coup” against Trump in 2016. Tuesday, July 22 View in browser …

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 22, 2025 at 11:07 AM

Tip sheet: Don’t fall asleep

Tip sheet: Don’t fall asleep In the musical “Cabaret,” Cliff Bradshaw leaves the audience with this monologue: “There was a cabaret, and there was a master of ceremonies. And there was a city called Berlin in a country called Germany. And it was the end of the world. And I was dancing wi…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 21, 2025 at 10:02 PM

Trump admin defying court by stonewalling on anti-voting order, plaintiffs say

Trump admin defying court by stonewalling on anti-voting order, plaintiffs say The Trump administration is defying a court order by refusing to say how federal agencies may be implementing Trump’s sweeping anti-voting executive order, pro-voting groups and Democrats alleged. …

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 21, 2025 at 4:33 PM

Six months of Trump and the fight ahead

Six months of Trump and the fight ahead This weekend, we marked six months of Donald Trump’s second term. Other than the fact that we’re six months closer to January 20, 2029,  there is nothing to celebrate. Since returning to the White House, Trump has waged a full-scale assault on the …

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 20, 2025 at 4:02 PM

What the Epstein scandal means for 2026 

What the Epstein scandal means for 2026 We are now in the second week of Donald Trump’s self-inflicted crisis over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein Files. On Saturday, Trump took to Truth Social to express his anger in a gibberish-filled post. Now, the president who usually leads con…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 20, 2025 at 11:12 AM

My conversation with Eric Holder: Obama’s DOJ, Texas redistricting, Dem power and more

My conversation with Eric Holder: Obama’s DOJ, Texas redistricting, Dem power and more Recently, I sat down with former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder for an interview. We talked about the DOJ under Obama vs. Trump, Texas redistricting, Holder’s personal connection to Alabama, what De…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 19, 2025 at 11:02 AM

Red states are already suppressing your votes

Red states are already suppressing your votes Donald Trump’s sweeping anti-voting executive order may be facing roadblocks in the courts, but that’s certainly not stopping Republicans from implementing it in the states. Across the country, GOP lawmakers are attacking voting rights by ena…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 18, 2025 at 10:02 PM

All the states where DOJ is demanding voting data

All the states where DOJ is demanding voting data In recent months, the Department of Justice has been contacting red, blue, and purple states, demanding access to sensitive election and voting data. Friday, July 18 View in browser …

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 18, 2025 at 4:02 PM

Republicans want to gerrymander their gerrymanders

Republicans want to gerrymander their gerrymanders There is a national scandal brewing that could threaten the foundation of democracy — and no surprise here — Donald Trump stands in the middle of it. This week, it broke out into the open. Republicans know that they are in danger of losi…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 18, 2025 at 11:02 AM

GOP states are implementing Trump’s anti-voting order 

GOP states are implementing Trump’s anti-voting order Courts have blocked the sweeping order that would impose extensive restrictions on voters. But courts can only do so much – and now, red states are moving forward to enact the order on their own. Friday, July 18 …

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 17, 2025 at 10:16 PM

North Carolina voter roll program could disenfranchise tens of thousands

North Carolina voter roll program could disenfranchise tens of thousands The North Carolina Board of Elections launched a new effort requiring over 100,000 voters to provide additional ID information or risk disenfranchisement. Thursday, July 17 View in browser …

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 17, 2025 at 11:02 AM

Trump’s TikTok power grab

Trump’s TikTok power grab Trump has made several dubious broad claims of executive authority. But few have been as sweeping and alarming as his recent assertions related to TikTok. Recent letters show he believes he has monarchical powers to arbitrarily exempt companies from federal laws…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 16, 2025 at 10:02 PM

Senators want answers on use of DHS database to purge voters

Senators want answers on use of DHS database to purge voters Democratic senators pressed Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for answers on the department’s expansion of a database that verifies voter citizenship to purge voters. Wednesday, July 16 …

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 16, 2025 at 5:34 PM

Trump’s growing Epstein crisis

Trump’s growing Epstein crisis This much is clear: Donald Trump is in a full-scale panic. What started Saturday night with a long, rambling social media post has now turned into a full-blown crisis for him, his administration and the GOP. His effort to silence calls for the Department of…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 16, 2025 at 11:04 AM

Mike Lindell said he regularly meets with Trump to talk election conspiracies

Mike Lindell said he regularly meets with Trump to talk election conspiracies Mike Lindell, the MyPillow CEO and notorious election denier and conspiracy theorist, said some interesting things on a MAGA podcast this week about meeting regularly with President Donald Trump. Also in this w…

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July 15, 2025 at 10:07 PM

Democrats vow to fight Texas’ effort to rig elections

Democrats vow to fight Texas’ effort to rig elections National Democrats are exploring options to stop Texas Republicans' plan for a rare mid-decade redistricting. The White House pressured the state to redraw its maps to aid the party in retaining its slim House majority. Tu…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 15, 2025 at 11:02 AM

What keeps Ketanji Brown Jackson up at night

What keeps Ketanji Brown Jackson up at night This is traditionally the quiet season for the U.S. Supreme Court. With its term concluded, the Justices typically disperse across the country — and the globe — attending legal conferences, delivering lectures, teaching courses and engaging in…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 14, 2025 at 10:03 PM

SCOTUS lets Trump go ahead with gutting education department 

SCOTUS lets Trump go ahead with gutting education department The Supreme Court let the Trump administration go forward with mass layoffs at the Department of Education, lifting a lower court order blocking the department from eliminating around half of its workforce. Monday,…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 14, 2025 at 5:17 PM

Trump just revealed his hand with Epstein

Trump just revealed his hand with Epstein This weekend marked the first time since Jan. 6, 2021, that Trump lost control of the narrative propelling his political movement. His solution after the violent insurrection at the Capitol was to retreat from public view, regroup and rebuild. Ev…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 13, 2025 at 4:32 PM

Trump’s Epstein problem

Trump’s Epstein problem I don’t usually write to you on Sundays, and my news analysis is typically reserved for premium members, but  I am insisting on sending this to everyone given the subject and unique threat to democracy. What is happening is not normal. It is dangerous and should n…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 13, 2025 at 11:02 AM

My conversation with Joyce Vance: Abrego Garcia, due process, Louisiana congressional maps

My conversation with Joyce Vance: Abrego Garcia, due process, Louisiana congressional maps This week, I sat down with former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance for an interview. We talked about the implications of the Supreme Court’s recent decisions, the Trump administration’s threat to deport K…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 12, 2025 at 11:02 AM

It’s the states, stupid

It’s the states, stupid A defining feature of Donald Trump is that he demands attention. From outrage to stupidity to outright cruelty, he forces us to look at him the way a disaster prevents us from averting our eyes. Much has been written about the attention economy and how Trump makes…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 11, 2025 at 10:03 PM

Texas’ Trump-driven redistricting and a win for Maine voters

Texas’ Trump-driven redistricting and a win for Maine voters In justifying its decision to redistrict, Texas cited the DOJ’s claim that it used race in drawing its congressional map. That led civil rights groups challenging the map to charge in a new filing that state officials may have …

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 11, 2025 at 4:43 PM

When all else fails, the GOP gerrymanders

When all else fails, the GOP gerrymanders We’re only six months into Donald Trump’s second term, and House Republicans are already panicking. They’ve hitched themselves to an unpopular president. They’ve supported deeply unpopular legislation. And most damning? They've proven unwilling t…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 11, 2025 at 11:02 AM

DOJ demands access to Minnesota’s voter rolls

DOJ demands access to Minnesota’s voter rolls The U.S. Department of Justice is demanding access to Minnesota’s voter rolls and proof of the state’s compliance with federal voting law, according to a letter obtained exclusively by Democracy Docket. Friday, July 11 …

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 10, 2025 at 10:02 PM

Court records show Texas flipped its stance on issue of race in drawing maps

Court records show Texas flipped its stance on issue of race in drawing maps Texas said it plans to redraw its congressional map, citing a claim by the U.S. Department of Justice that the current map is an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. But court records reviewed by Democracy Docke…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 10, 2025 at 8:50 PM

EXCLUSIVE: Every anti-voting action taken by Trump’s DOJ

Pay attention to DOGE's new leader, not Elon's drama We've been tracking the U.S. Department of Justice's sharp 180 since President Trump returned to the White House. Instead of protecting voting access, it’s now pushing to tighten voting rules, and supporting voter suppression laws. Tha…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 10, 2025 at 11:03 AM

El Salvador undermines Trump’s legal defense

El Salvador undermines Trump’s legal defense El Salvador’s recent bombshell disclosure to the United Nations undermines a key position Justice Department lawyers have taken while defending the president’s Alien Enemies Act removals. And it contradicts what senior Trump officials have tol…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 9, 2025 at 10:02 PM

Judge halts part of Florida law attacking direct democracy 

Judge halts part of Florida law attacking direct democracy In a win for Florida voters, a federal court temporarily blocked parts of a new state law that makes it much harder for residents to put citizen-led initiatives on the ballot. Wednesday, July 9 View in brow…

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 9, 2025 at 11:02 AM

Three GOP secretaries of state spoke at a conference of election deniers. They won’t tell us what they said.

Three GOP secretaries of state spoke at a conference of election deniers. They won’t tell us what they said. Three Republican secretaries of state spoke at a conference of election deniers and they won’t tell us what they said — that’s a huge problem. Also in this week’s Eye On The Right…

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July 8, 2025 at 10:04 PM

SCOTUS allows Trump to continue mass government layoffs

SCOTUS allows Trump to continue mass government layoffs The Supreme Court allowed President Donald Trump to proceed with slashing the federal workforce through mass firings as part of an effort to transform the executive branch in his image. Tuesday, July 8 View in…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 8, 2025 at 11:02 AM

Republicans’ 2026 strategy 

Republicans’ 2026 strategy We are still 16 months away from the midterm elections, and Republicans are already spending millions of dollars to make voting more difficult. Their court filings explain — in clear terms — that their motivation in these cases is to disenfranchise Democrats. …

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 7, 2025 at 10:03 PM

DOJ jumps on SCOTUS ruling to revive Trump's anti-voting order

DOJ jumps on SCOTUS ruling to revive Trump's anti-voting order After SCOTUS’ ruling banning universal injunctions, the DOJ argued a court should partially lift its block on the proof of citizenship requirement in Trump’s anti-voting order. Monday, July 7  View in b…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 7, 2025 at 5:02 PM

This July 4, kings were back in fashion 

This July 4, kings were back in fashion Publishing the Declaration of Independence was an act of radical defiance. If you look beyond the niceties of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” the Declaration is a harsh indictment of mistreatment under a dictatorship. …

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 6, 2025 at 11:02 AM

My conversation with Preet Bharara: DOJ, nationwide injunctions, checks and balances and more

My conversation with Preet Bharara: DOJ, nationwide injunctions, checks and balances and more This week, I sat down with Preet Bharara — former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York who was famously fired by Trump in his first term — live on Substack to talk about how membe…

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 5, 2025 at 11:03 AM

Reading list: The RNC’s war on voting just went global

Reading list: The RNC’s war on voting just went global The RNC has moved its campaign against voting rights to target U.S. citizens living abroad. We are still more than a year away from the 2026 elections. This is just the beginning. View in browser …

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  Marc Elias · [email protected]

July 4, 2025 at 4:27 PM

Fools, cowards and the big ugly bill

Fools, cowards and the big ugly bill In a healthy democracy, leaders govern through persuasion. They make arguments and respond to critics. They observe norms and advance proposals through compromise and mutual respect. Friday, July 4 View in browser …

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  Democracy Docket · [email protected]

July 4, 2025 at 11:03 AM

DOJ backs Wyoming’s proof of citizenship law

DOJ backs Wyoming’s proof of citizenship law Wyoming is defending its new law requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration. Now they have the U.S. Department of Justice on their side. Friday, July 4 View in browser …

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